A defense spending bill that cleared the U.S. Senate this week includes numerous provisions that will benefit North Carolina, from nearly $400 million for construction at military bases to policies to protect service members.
The Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024 on Thursday with a vote of 86-11 following a floor debate to consider 900 amendments, 121 of which were adopted.
The bill, S2226, includes a 5.2% pay raise for service members, $398.9 million in construction for North Carolina military bases, and a provision added by Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, to preserve the F-15E Strike Eagles stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Budd also co-authored an amendment designed to protect service members from debt collector harassment.
The legislation must be reconciled with a House version of the bill that cleared the House Armed Services Committee 58-1 in June, before it heads to President Joe Biden for approval.
“In order to be a strong nation, we need a strong military. The Senate’s FY 2024 NDAA provides significant support to North Carolina’s service members, their families, and our military installations,” Budd said. “At the same time, it saves F-15E fighters from divestment by the Air Force, which not only bolsters North Carolina’s Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, but maintains one of our country’s most reliable fighter aircraft for the remainder of this decade.”
